Tsitsipas stars at Next Gen ATP Finals, but De Minaur having 'hell of a year'

AFP

Milan (AFP) -

Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas may be the star attraction at the Next Gen ATP Finals but Australian Alex de Minaur said Thursday he was "having a hell of a year" as both raced into the semi-finals of the season-ending tournament for players aged under-21 with only one set dropped in three games.

Tsitsipas, ranked 15th in the world, will take on last year's finalist Andrey Rublev in Friday's semi-finals with de Minaur, 19, up against Spaniard Jaume Munar.

"I'm playing well, I'm feeling well, and I'm happy to be the star," said Tsitsipas, 20.

"But I know there's another star who had three wins in a row in the other part of the draw. So the tournament is not over yet."

The Greek player, in Group A in the round robin tournament, was referring to de Minaur who also won his three matches in Group B.

The Australian began the season at number 208 and reached a career-high 31 last month.

"It's definitely a big surprise. I never expected almost anything that happened this year," said the player from Sydney.

"It's been a hell of a year. I've enjoyed every second of it and it's given me a hunger for more."